BOARD MEETING DATE: February 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 20

PROPOSAL:

Legislative and Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights December 2009 outreach activities of Legislative and Public Affairs, which include: Environmental Justice Update, Community Events/Public Meetings, Business Assistance, and Outreach to Business and Federal, State, and Local Government.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

This report summarizes the activities of Legislative and Public Affairs for December 2009. The report includes four major areas: Environmental Justice Update; Community Events/Public Meetings (including the Speakers Bureau/Visitor Services, Communications Center, and Public Information Center); Business Assistance; and Outreach to Business and the Federal, State, and Local Governments. 

Environmental Justice Update

The following are key environmental justice-related activities in which staff participated during December 2009. These events involved communities which suffer disproportionately from adverse air quality impacts. 

• Staff participated in the Santee High School Environmental Health Fair which was held at the Los Angeles City Hall. The fair was organized by the Santee High School Environmental Debate Club. During the event, staff showcased the all-electric Mini E and distributed air quality related information to approximately 200 high school students. The majority of students attending Santee High School are from minority and lower income communities living in impacted areas.

• On November 18, 2009 AQMD hosted a Town Hall meeting with the City of Maywood. Staff presented the “How to Report Air Quality Complaints” video to attendees. City of Maywood elected officials requested a copy of the video to post on the city’s website. It is also available on the AQMD website.

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of residents engage in valuable information exchanges through events and meetings that AQMD sponsors alone, or in partnership with others. Attendees typically receive the following information: tips on reducing their exposure to smog and its health effects; ways to participate in AQMD rule and policy development; and assistance in resolving air quality-related problems. Highlights of events/activities undertaken during the month of December 2009 include the following:

Speakers Bureau/Visitor Services

AQMD receives requests for staff to speak on a variety of air quality-related issues. The requests come from organizations such as trade associations, chambers of commerce, community-based groups, schools, hospitals and health-based organizations. AQMD also hosts visitors from around the world who meet with staff on a wide range of air quality issues. The following activities were coordinated by this office in December 2009:

December 2 Provided a presentation on air quality issues affecting the region to 40 students from Costa Mesa High School. Students were given an alternative fuel cell vehicle demonstration and a tour of AQMD’s lab.

December 17 Visitors from Shandong, China Provincial Department of Environmental Protection were given an overview of issues affecting the region and a tour of AQMD’s lab. 

Communication Center Statistics

The Communication Center handles calls on the AQMD main line, 1-800-CUT-SMOG^® line and Spanish line. Calls received in the month of December 2009 are summarized below:

(*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.)

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center (PIC) handles phone calls and walk-in requests for general information. Information for the month of December 2009 is summarized below:

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD assists businesses by notifying them of proposed regulations so they can participate in the development of these rules. AQMD also works with other agencies and states to identify efficient, cost-effective ways to reduce air pollution and shares that information broadly. Additionally, staff provides personalized assistance to small businesses both over the telephone and by on-site consultation. The information is summarized below.

• Conducted 8 free on-site consultations

• Provided assistance in filing 6 requests for variance

• Provided permit application assistance to 234 companies

• Issued 19 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Field visits and communications were conducted with staff from the following cities: 

Aliso Viejo, Alhambra, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Burbank, Carson, Chino, Claremont, Commerce, Covina, Desert Hot Springs, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Garden Grove, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Indio, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, Laguna Woods, La Puente, La Verne, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Maywood, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Pomona, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, San Marino, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Walnut, and West Covina.  

Visits and/or communications were conducted with elected officials or staff from the following offices: 

Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the following groups:

• Alabama Department of Environmental Management
• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
• Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County
• Beach Cities Health District
• Benton Clean Air Agency
• Blue Green Alliance
• California Hospital Association
• California School Nurses Organization
• CALSTART
• Center for Biological Diversity
• Center on Wisconsin Strategy
• Cigna Healthcare
• Citizen Action, Illinois
• Citrus College
• Clean Air Campaign
• Clean Air Carolina
• Clean Air Council
• Clean Air Task Force
• Clean Air Watch
• Clean Water Action
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments
• Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Corona Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs and Legislative Committee
• County of Riverside Department of Public Health
• County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health
• Edison International
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Environmental Law and Policy Center
• Environment Northeast
• Five Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce
• Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council
• Fresh Energy
• Frontlines SMS
• Friends of Casco Bay
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Good Samaritan Hospital
• Green Delaware
• Group Against Smog and Pollution
• Hospital Association of Southern California
• Hoosier Environmental Council
• Indio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Inland Empire High Speed Rail Authority
• Instituto De Educacion Popular del Sur De California
• Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
• Izaak Walton League of America, Midwest Office
• Korean Churches for Community Development
• Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce
• Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
• Loma Linda University
• Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
• Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health
• Los Angeles County Medical Association
• Los Angeles Unified School District, Nursing Services
• Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
• Madrona Marsh Preserve, Torrance
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
• Minnesota Environmental Initiative
• Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs and Legislative Committee
• Morongo Band of Mission Indians
• Mount San Antonio College
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Western Leadership
• National Association of County and City Health Officials
• National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
• Northwest Clean Air Agency
• Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
• Omnitrans
• Orange County Health Care Agency
• Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce
• Palm Desert Educational Foundation
• Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce
• PennFuture
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• Port of Long Beach
• Promotoras/Community Health Worker Network
• Public Citizen, Texas State Office
• Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee
• Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
• Rim of the World Unified School District
• Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs and Legislative Committee
• Riverside County Department of Public Health
• Riverside County Transportation Commission
• Riverside Transit Agency
• San Bernardino Associated Governments
• San Fernando Valley Council of Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
• Shalom Institute
• South Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
• South Bay Cities Council of Governments
• Southern California Association of Governments
• Southern California Gas Company
• South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce
• Southwest Clean Air Agency
• SunLine Transit Agency
• State of Washington Department of Ecology
• Transportation NOW, Pass Area
• University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication
• Van Gogh Elementary School, Los Angeles
• Vision y Compromiso
• Western Riverside Council of Governments
• West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee
• WildEarth Guardians
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority